Senedd Cymru	Welsh Parliament
Pwyllgor yr Economi, Masnach a Materion Gwledig	Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee
Blaenoriaethau ar gyfer y Chweched Senedd	Priorities for the Sixth Senedd.
ETRA - 45
Ymateb gan: Ffederasiwn Bwyd a Diod	Evidence from: Food and Drink Federation

The future of the food and drink industry in Wales

Purpose of the Consultation

The food and drink supply chain in Wales plays an important role to the Welsh economy, employing 229,500 people, with 22.1bn turnover and contributing £5.2bn in GVA to the Welsh economy.

As we have seen over the Covid-19 pandemic, the food and drink industry plays a vital role in feeding the nation, in ensuring food security, and in driving jobs and growth in Wales. While recovering from the impact of the pandemic, the industry now faces new challenges including recent labour shortages and impending regulations. But it is also faced by new opportunities such as reaching ambitious net zero targets.

This demonstrates that the importance of sustaining the viability of the sector has never been so great.

Areas of interest

• Economic value to communities in Wales
• Ways to support the Welsh food and drink industry to grow
• Employment and skills offered by the sector and the benefits of a career in food and drink in Wales
• Role of automation and digitisation in embracing existing and new technologies
• Trade opportunities and promoting exports of Welsh food and drink
• Supply chain’s role in tackling food security and obesity
• Food and drink sector’s role in economic recovery, fair work, net zero, food security and obesity.

Julie Byers
Public Affairs Manager
Food and Drink Federation